With time running out, Fairfield residents are headed to Hartford to rally against the Connecticut Citing Council's plan to go forward with United Illuminating's monopoles.

The utility is planning to install high-voltage transmission lines up to 145 feet high north of the railroad tracks and the Post Road.

Many businesses along the tracks say they will feel the effects of UI's huge monopoles. A project that will also impact homes from Southport to Bridgeport. AJ Ruberti, who own's Rawley's Hot Dogs in Fairfield, says a 6-foot diameter monopole in his parking lot could devastate his business. "Why don't you just restring the poles that are already there?" asked Ruberti. "I'm one of many, many properties that will be impacted," said Stephen Boccarossa, who owns an insurance company in town. Boccarossa says United Illuminating stands to gain big money from the project. "UI is able to charge back to the taxpayers up to 11-14% interest on the project. They have a projected project cost of a billion dollars," said Boccarossa.

Boccarossa joined fellow residents at the Pequot Library Tuesday morning, many with signs, all boarding a bus to Hartford for a rally at the state Capitol. People opposing these huge monopoles say their property rights need to be protected, and they want the governor to step in.

"The existence of these monopoles right downtown. Just the visual effect, the ecological effect when there seems to be a very good viable alternative plan to bury these lines," said Boccarossa.

UI claimed that burying the transmission lines would dh UI claims would cost more than $1 billion. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and Fairfield First Selectman Christine Vitale will be voicing their opposition Wednesday morning to the project at a joint news conference. The final vote on the monopole project by the citing council is expected on Thursday.